PITTSBURGH, PA (July 9, 2014) - "I realize that many people in Mount Washington wanted a dog park removed from the community but today my administration announced a compromise that will let one stay.

There have been two years of debate on the neighborhood's dog park, and over the past three months my staff engaged in a community process with all stakeholders to identify the best solution. Our goal was to provide an off-leash area sought by dog owners that is set far enough away from residential properties to limit impacts on neighbors.

After these discussions we created a plan to move the current off-leash area to another, not yet built, area on the 1.1 miles of trails that exist behind Olympia Park. While Public Works studies designs and prepares the new site the current off-leash area will remain.

Dozens of people came forward and expressed their displeasure with the situation. But living together in our city requires moving past our differences and embracing solutions that represent the best interests of the entire neighborhood, not just one group over another. It requires compromise. Preserving an off-leash area in the park, with minimal residential impacts, does just that."